St. Elmo's Fire-nois

We didn't actually stay in St. Elmo, we just biked there. We couchsurfed in a nameless place in the middle of Illinois. The nearest town was called Toledo. We stayed with the rugged, self-sufficient Kaye family who burn their plastic, and offset it "with carbon credits from the nursery stock" they tend to. Between them and the three or four neighboring families, grocery store trips are not required. Everything we ate from the steak, tomatoes, and potatoes, to the pancakes the next morning were locally grown, totally organic, and totally pleasing to the palate.

Our host's father was once a member of the Illinois supreme court. There was a contraption in the living room that spun you upside down and cracked your back for you. We don't really know much about the Kayes, but we're pretty sure they have enough outlandish (and true) stories to last a year's worth of visits.

Despite their austere veneer (triple rhyme) we're pretty sure these folks could hack it in any city. I got the feeling that they weren't quite so "country" as they'd have us believe. Speculations aside, they were awesome, and further proof that you never know who you'll meet when you're on the road.

- Maj

Distance Biked: 95 miles. It's shorter than that as the crow flies, but we had to go mad far out of our way to find food in the middle of Nowheresville.

It was great meeting you guys yesterday (9-29-10). I hope that you enjoyed your first experience at Arby's in Vandalia, Illinois. Let me know if you need anything if you are ever by "The Cross" at the Crossroad of America in Effingham, Illinois. Good Luck